Door closer



w. w. WERNER 2,639,459

DOOR CLOSER Filed Feb. 2'7, 1950 May 26, 1953 INVENTOR. WILLY W. WERNER ATTORNEY.

igmgm/ Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR CLOSER Willy W. Werner, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 27, 1950, Serial No. 146,567

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a door check and closer and, in particular, it relates to a spring "actuated door check in combination with a brake -lining and cam for controlling the rate of movement of the mechanism.

In brake shoes of the spring actuated type,

-considerable difficulty has been encountered in "providing a suitable means for resisting movement of the spring so as to effect the closing of a door in a smooth and efficient manner.

I have found that a mechanism of this type may be actuated effectively by providing a cam and brake lining combination in which the cam pivotally supported in a manner so that its engagement with the brake shoe may be effectively self-adjustable. For example, the cam is -so pivoted that as the door is opened the engagement of the brake lining with the cam is such that the cam is merely pivoted about its support resulting in no restraining influence. However,

as thedoor is being closed by means of spring for the purpose of removing the frictional engagement of the cams with the brake lining when the door is in approximate closing position. This allows the door to be closed with additional force when in closing position so as to actuate easily the conventional latch mechanism usually associated with doors. vention is that the cams may be easily adjusted so as to vary the tension of the cams against Another provision of my inthe brake lining and thereby control the rate of movement of the door against the action of the spring.

It is, therefore, among the objects and advantages of my invention to provide a door check and closer of the spring actuated type which will permit a door to be opened-easily but which will 'operate to close the door in a controlled smooth movement; to provide such a mechanism which includes a relief to permit a more positive action of the closing mechanism as the door reaches its closing position; to provide such a mechanism which is easily adjustable; to provide such a mechanism which will function effectively throughout long periods of usage; and, to providesuch a mechanism which is efficient in per- 'formance and economical of -manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a door check and closer forming an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side View, in section, of the mechanism taken along lines II-II of Figure 1;

' Figure 3 is a plan view, in section, of the mechanism taken along line I-IIIII of Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a portion of an elevational view, in section, taken along lines IVIV of Figure 3.

With reference to the drawing and, in particular, to Figure 1, I show an embodiment of my invention constituting a door check and closer. Essentially, the embodiment comprises a bracket 5 which is ordinarily attached to the frame of a door. Supported by the bracket l is a housing 2 having an arm 3 extending therefrom. A lever 4 is pivoted to the arm 3 by means of a pivot screw 5. At the opposite end of the lever 4 is an adjustable link 6 pivotally attached at l to an angle plate 8 which, in turn, is fastened to a conventional door. The use and position of the door check and closer is similar to that of most conventional types of door checks used for the same purpose.

With reference to Figure 2 and extending upwardly from the bracket l is a cylindrical portion 9. A central pin or shaft [0 is attached to and extends upwardly from the cylindrical portion 9. This attachment is made by means of a threaded portion ll projecting from the shaft [0 and engaging with complementary threads associated with the cylindrical portion 9. A cap screw l2 functions to attach the housing 2 with the shaft I0 thus allowing the housing 2 to move pivotally relative to the bracket I. The lower portion of the housing 2 forms, in effect, a brake drum l3 against the inner surface of which is bonded a brake lining I4.

To provide the energy for closing the door a helical spring I5 is utilized. The spring is formed of spring steel having a rectangular crosssection. One end of the spring l5 has a bent 'up portion which engages in a slot I! in the housing 2. Also, the other end of the spring is bent downward to form a portion H! which engages a slot IQ for securing the spring. There are a plurality of slots l9 positioned in the cylindrical portion 9 so that the tension of the spring l5 may be adjusted to accommodate different conditions of usage of the door closer.

As shown in particular, in Figures 3 and 4, I provide a' cam mechanism for engaging the brake lining l4. Essentially, this mechanism comprises a cam 20 positioned within a recess in the cylindrical portion 9. The cam 20 is itself a cylindrical member the curved surface of which is in engageable position relative to the brake lining Id. The cam 20 is held in position by means of a pin 2! which pivotally attaches to the cam and to a cam support 22. The pin 2! is oil-center relative to the axis of the cam 20. This is essential in order to provide a. binding action when the door is moving to closed posi tion while at the same time allowing the cam to pivot freely when the door is being opened. When the cam 29 is in its binding or retarding position, it is in engagement with the brake lining and is supported in that position by in engagement with the Wall 23 of the recess formed in the cylindrical portion '9. -A light fiat spring 24 is also positioned within the recess within the cylindrical portion 9 and engages with 1116 cam 20 so as to maintain thecam 2.0 norma ly in engagement with thesurface 23.

The cam retainer 22 is in the. form of .a plug which is slidable within an aperture 25 extending laterally through the cylindrical portion 9. This cam retainer 22 is adjustable by means of a thumb screw extending axially, through the bracket I. The thumb screw 25 is provided with .a coneeshaped end Zlwhich enga es with a complementary surface of the cam retainer 22. By

moving the thumb screw 26 inwardly the cam ,20-is moved outwardly so as to tighten its relationship with the brake lining l4. A spring 28 between the head of the screw 26 and the bracket ,l merely serves as a locking means to prevent the screw .26 from moving of its own accord.

While I have described a single cam and. cam

retainer and associated mechanism, a similar cam and cam retainer is positioned within the cylindrical member 9 in a diametrically opposite position. It is to be understood that the opposite earn mechanism is identical and functions simil rly and simultaneo ly s the first mentioned cam unit.

The brake lining 1B is provided with an indented portion 29 which functions as a relief so that the cam 28 will not engage the brake lining in this region. A similar relief portion is located diametrically opposite to the relief portion designated as 29. The purpose of this relief is to disengage the cam with the brake linins when the door reaches substantially its .closed position. This eliminates any frictional restraint of the mechanism and allows the force of the spring -15 without restraint to complete the ,closing of th d at h P t- In the operation of the door check and closing mechanism the door, when it is swung open, causes the housing 2 to pivot relation to the brake l,, and this energizes the spring I5. During this travel of the door the cam 20 engages the brake lining M but merely slides easily along the surface of the brake lining because thecam piyzots about the pin 21. When the door begins its closing movement the cam 29 cannot pivot about the pin 2| because of the reverse frictional ,movement of the brake lining against the cam surface which forces thecam against the wall 23. As a result, a uniform pressure is exerted by the cam against the brake lining constituting a frictional engagement to cause the door to move slowly against the action .of the spring IS.

The brake lining is formed of leather and, as such, it possesses a yielding reaction with the loam 2G to permit a smooth and effective restraint in the action of the door closing operation. It is to be noted that the diameter of the cam is relatively small in relation to the diameter of the brake lining. It is this feature constituting a relatively small area of contact between the cam 20 and the brake lining which permits an accurate control on the degree of restraint effected in the closing operation. The thumb screw 26 enables the cams to be set in a most ilavora'ble tensioning position,

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. A brake means for a door check mechanism comprising, a brake drum, a brake lining attached to the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum, a rotatable member Within said brake drum and rotatablerelative thereto, obelical spring having oneend attached to the drum and the other end attached to said rotatable member, a pair of cylindrical members in-diametrically opposite positions. carried by said r0- tatable member and within said brake drum, a supp rtine member nivota y attached to of said cylindrical members, the axes .of said icylindrical members lying parallel to the of said brakedrum and the pivotal attachmwt between cylindrical members and s id supportin members being off center relative to -tho geometrical axes of the cylindrical members, and

me s r adiust n tbe u p rting members toward or away from said brake lining.

2. Abrake means for a doorcheck mechanism comprising, .a.brake drum, a'brake dining attached to the inner peripheral surfa e o t brake .drum, a rotatable member withinsaid brake drum and rotatable relative thereto, a helical spring haying one end attached to. the drum and the other end attached to sa-idgotatable member, a pair of cylindrical members. in diametrically opposite positions carriedhy said rotatable member and within said brake drum, a supporting member iyotally attached to, each of s id cylindrical membe s, he xe of said w li d al mb rs ly nerarallel to, the was of IVS-aid r e d um and thepivotalattechment between said ylindricalmemb rs and said supn m mb s eing off-center re ative to geflmefirica'l 'aXeS o h cylindr cal member a li ht s ring or en aging and maintaining e cy ndrical members in contact it n, brake l ng, and means. for adjustin t e suppmfing mem rs toward or away from. said brake. .llmns- :3. Abrake means for a door ch ck mechan sm comprisin a brake drum, a brake lining attached to. the i ner Pe pheral su face, sat-the brake drum, a rotatable member within said brake drum and rotatable relative thereto, a.

el-ical sp in havin one end attached tome drum and the other end atta h in g m, llatable e b r a air ofv cylindrical m m er n iametrically opposite positions carried by said rotatable ,.member and within sa 5 w r m a u porting member pivotally tma to each of said cylindrical member ,v t v i c n i al m mbers. lyin parallel t s ax of said brake drumand the pivotal attach .ment betweensaid cylindricalmembe land's! supporting embers being oli t m he geometri a -axes of the cylindrical members. a Wall forming a portion of the rotatable momher forming a stop for limiting movement of a cylindrical member against the action of the spring, and means for adjusting the supporting members toward or away from said brake lining.

4. A brake means for a door check mechanism comprising, a brake drum, a brake lining attached t0 the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum, rotatable member within said brake drum and rotatable relative thereto, a helical spring having one end attached to the drum and the other end attached to said rotatable member, a pair of oppositely disposed radially movable supports carried by said rotatable member, a cam pivotally supported at the outer ends of said supports, said pivotal connections being off-center relative to the body of said cam members, a member between said supports for adjustably positioning said supports 6 radially of said rotatable member, and resilient means between said rotatable member and said cams for urging said cams in contact with said brake lining.

WILLY W. WERNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

